The Lampasas County Commissioners Court is considering changes to the county’s rabies and animal control ordinance, including fee increases and a new definition of a “dangerous animal.”

Precinct 1 Commissioner Robert Vincent suggested changing the definition of a “dangerous animal” that must be euthanized. Dogs “that attack domesticated animals” are considered “dangerous,” according to the current ordinance, adopted in 2005.

“Domesticated animals,” Vincent said, could be interpreted to include creatures as small as a pet mouse. Vincent suggested replacing the words “domesticated animals” with “livestock.”

“The wording leaves a lot to be desired,” Vincent said of the ordinance as written. “It’s too broad of a wording.”

Vincent also wants to remove a section of the ordinance that authorizes a county commissioner to enter a person’s property and kill a dangerous animal.

“I can’t kill somebody’s animal,” Vincent said. “I don’t feel like that’s my job.”

The commissioner said he is willing, however, to help secure an animal and let an animal control officer handle it.

Vincent also suggested increasing several animal control fees. The ordinance includes a $20 impound fee and a $7 boarding fee. The $50 “dangerous animal” registration fee included in the ordinance is confusing, Vincent said, because another part of the ordinance requires officials to euthanize dangerous animals.

Commissioners also will consider new rules about an “unprovoked attack,” currently defined as an encounter outside of the property where a dog belongs.

The Texas Legislature has passed several new laws about animal attacks since Lampasas County’s rabies and animal control ordinance took effect, County Judge Wayne Boultinghouse said.

Commissioners voted unanimously to table the matter and await suggestions from County Attorney Larry Allison on how to change the ordinance.

Commissioners also discussed -- but did not approve -- a $10 annual fee for aerobic sewage system maintenance contract renewals.

The annual fee is needed, Boultinghouse’s assistant Dianne Seery said, to help pay record keeping costs associated with aerobic septic systems and their maintenance contracts. Bell County charges a $10 annual renewal fee and uses part of the revenue to remind property owners by mail of their maintenance contract renewal deadline, Ms. Seery said.

An annual renewal fee would penalize property owners who do not have another sewage treatment option besides an aerobic system, Vincent said.

A motion by Precinct 4 Commissioner Jack B. Cox not to impose an annual renewal fee failed 3-2. Boultinghouse, Precinct 2 Commissioner Alex Wittenburg and Precinct 3 Commissioner Lowell Ivey voted against the motion. No commissioner made a motion to charge an annual fee.

Also Monday, the Commissioners Court approved a resolution that calls for “monopoles” instead of lattice tower structures for part of an electric transmission line project that may pass through southern Lampasas County.

County Auditor Jack Clark -- who owns property near Farm-to- Market Road 3170 -- explained the resolution, which does not recommend any particular route for proposed Lower Colorado River Authority lines.

“I have a vested interest, and you do need to know that upfront,” Clark said, before explaining the draft of the resolution.

Monopoles will not harm landowners’ views as much as lattice towers, Clark said, because monopoles are slightly shorter and require smaller bases. Lattice towers cost less and can be spread farther apart than monopoles, however, LCRA Transmission Asset Development manager Stuart Nelson said in a news release.

The resolution calls for monopoles in segments C-27, C-29 and C-30 of a proposed LCRA electric line route.

In other business, commissioners:

• approved the resignation of Camron Brister from his elected office of Precinct 2 & 3 constable. Brister, who will remain employed as a Lampasas County Sheriff’s Department deputy, has filed to run for Precinct 2 & 3 justice of the peace.

• adopted a resolution for joint elections on March 2, when Republican and Democratic party primaries will be held, and April 13, the runoff date.

• voted 5-0 to increase election workers’ pay from $8 per hour to $8.50 per hour. The new pay is the same rate the city of Lampasas and the Lampasas Independent School District use for their election workers.

• designated Elections Administrator Dorothy Person a human resources assistant for the county auditor’s office. No pay raise is associated with Ms. Person’s additional duties.

• voted unanimously to increase fees for 911 markers and county road/private road signs. For county residents, blue plaques now cost $10, up from $7.50. One-sided green plaques increase from $15 to $17.50, and two-sided plaques increase from $30 to $35.